Ludhiana: Continuous rainfall lashing Ludhiana for nearly eight hours has brought the city to a standstill, with waterlogged streets, damaged vehicles, and flooding inside residential areas. Authorities have placed villages and towns along the Sutlej River on high alert, urging residents to relocate to safer areas.
According to officials, torrential rains began around 3 pm and have since inundated several parts of the city. Overflowing sewer lines have caused water to back up into homes, forcing many residents to stay indoors. In one incident near the Damoria Bridge, a wall collapsed on parked vehicles, leaving at least three to four cars badly damaged.
The flood-like situation has affected large swathes of the city, including Hargobind Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Janakpuri, Kitchlu Nagar, Chauda Bazar, Salem Tabri, Budha Dariya, and Tajpur Road, among others. With water levels reaching three to four feet in some neighborhoods, motorists and pedestrians are struggling to navigate submerged roads. Underpasses have also been rendered impassable.
Municipal Corporation teams, along with drainage department officials, have deployed pumps to clear water from key areas. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said that officials are keeping constant watch on the Sutlej and surrounding embankments, adding that emergency teams are prepared to act swiftly if the situation worsens.
In a precautionary advisory, the administration has appealed to citizens not to immerse Ganesh idols in the Sutlej during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Authorities warned that the swollen river poses a significant safety threat, making traditional immersion rituals extremely risky this year.
